CHAPTER 2. WATERCRAFT EQUIPMENT
IC 14-15-2
Chapter 2. Watercraft Equipment
IC 14-15-2-1
Unlawful operation without proper equipment
Sec. 1. A person may not operate a motorboat upon public water
if the motorboat is not equipped with the equipment required by this
chapter. The equipment must be:
(1) in good repair and operating condition; and
(2) ready for use;
at all times.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-2
Bilge ventilators
Sec. 2. The following must be equipped with at least two (2) bilge
ventilators fitted with cowls, or the equivalent, and designed and
constructed to permit the safe diffusion into the air of all
inflammable or explosive gases:
(1) An inboard motorboat that uses motor fuel having a flash
point of not more than one hundred ten degrees (110°)
Fahrenheit, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed
cup test device.
(2) The greater part of the bilge of a motorboat that is not at all
times open and exposed to the air.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-3
Carburetor backfire arrest device
Sec. 3. The carburetor on an inboard motorboat must be equipped
with a stock factory device:
(1) designed and constructed to arrest backfire; and
(2) of a make or type approved by the United States Coast
Guard.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-4
Mufflers; underwater exhaust
Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to a motorboat competing
in and during a motorboat race for which a permit has been issued by
the department.
(b) A person may not operate a motorboat on Indiana water unless
the boat motor is equipped with:
(1) a muffler;
(2) an underwater exhaust; or
(3) other device;
that muffles or suppresses the sound of the exhaust to prevent
excessive and unusual noise at all speeds.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-5
Muffler cutouts; bypass
Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to a motorboat competing
in and during a motorboat race for which a permit has been issued by
the department.
(b) A person may not operate a motorboat on Indiana water if the
boat motor is equipped with any of the following:
(1) A muffler cutout.
(2) A bypass.
(3) Any device similar to a muffler cutout or bypass.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-6
Personal flotation devices
Sec. 6. (a) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) A sailboard or windsurfing board.
(2) A manually propelled boat, such as a racing shell, rowing
scull, or racing kayak:
(A) that is recognized by national or international racing
associations for use in competitive racing;
(B) in which all occupants row, scull, or paddle, with the
exception of a coxswain if a coxswain is provided; and
(C) that is designed to carry and carries equipment only for
competitive racing.
(b) All boats must be equipped with the number and type of
personal flotation devices listed in this subsection. A person may not
operate a boat unless the boat contains:
(1) for each person on board, one (1) personal flotation device
that meets the requirements for designation by the United States
Coast Guard as a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V personal
flotation device; and
(2) for a boat, except a canoe or kayak, at least sixteen (16) feet
in length and in addition to the requirements of subdivision (1),
one (1) personal flotation device that meets the requirements for
designation by the United States Coast Guard as a Type IV
personal flotation device.
(c) The director may waive the requirements of this section for a
boat during competition in a boat race for which a permit has been
issued by the department if the following conditions are met:
(1) The sponsor of the boat race has informed the director of the
precautions the sponsor will take to minimize the safety hazards
that exist due to noncompliance with the requirements of this
section.
(2) The sponsor files with the director a document under which
the sponsor assumes all liability that may result from the use of
a boat under the waiver.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.38-2000, SEC.2;
P.L.24-2001, SEC.1.
IC 14-15-2-7
Holding tanks; sewage disposal
Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, "sewage" means human body
wastes.
(b) A person may not keep, maintain, or operate upon public water
a boat that is equipped with a water closet or toilet unless the water
closet or toilet is equipped with a holding tank with the capacity to
store wastes for subsequent disposal at:
(1) an approved shoreside facility or incinerator; or
(2) a treatment system approved by the department of
environmental management according to rules adopted by the
solid waste management board or the water pollution control
board.
(c) A person may not dispose of sewage accumulated in a holding
tank or any other container on a watercraft in a manner that the
sewage reaches or may reach public waters, except through a sewage
disposal facility approved by the department of environmental
management according to rules adopted by:
(1) the solid waste management board; or
(2) the water pollution control board.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-8
Littering
Sec. 8. (a) As used in this section, "litter" means bottles, glass,
crockery, cans, scrap metal, junk, paper, garbage, rubbish, plastic, or
similar refuse.
(b) In the operation or use of watercraft, a person may not throw,
dump, place, deposit, or cause or permit to be thrown, dumped,
placed, or deposited:
(1) any litter, filth, or putrid or unwholesome substance; or
(2) the contents of a water closet or toilet, catch basin, or grease
trap;
in or upon public water or the banks of public water.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-9
Gas or flammable liquids
Sec. 9. (a) This section does not apply to motor fuel or fuel used
in pocket cigarette, cigar, or pipe lighters.
(b) A person may not carry in a boat that is:
(1) kept, maintained, or operated upon public water; and
(2) used to carry passengers for hire;
gas, liquefied gas, or an inflammable liquid capable of being used for
cooking, heating, or lighting.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-10
Lights
Sec. 10. A person may not operate a boat upon public water
during the period between sunset and sunrise that is not equipped
with a light required by this chapter. The light must be:
(1) in good repair and operating condition; and
(2) displayed and lighted or burning except as otherwise
permitted.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-11
White light aft
Sec. 11. Motorboats and auxiliary sailboats must be equipped with
at least one (1) white light aft, casting a light visible three hundred
sixty degrees (360°) for a distance of at least two (2) miles, under the
following conditions:
(1) Except as provided in section 13 of this chapter, motorboats
and auxiliary sailboats, whether under power and sail or power
alone, must display one (1) of the following:
(A) An all-round white light aft.
(B) A combination of one (1) stern light visible through an
arc of twelve (12) points or one hundred thirty-five degrees
(135°) to the stern and at least one (1) masthead light visible
twenty (20) points or two hundred twenty-five degrees
(225°) so as to complete the white light arc over the horizon.
(2) Sailboats more than twenty-two (22) feet in length and
operating under sail alone must display one (1) of the
following:
(A) An all-round white light aft visible three hundred sixty
degrees (360°).
(B) A white stern light visible through an arc of twelve (12)
points or one hundred thirty-five degrees (135°) to the stern.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-12
Combination starboard and port lights
Sec. 12. All:
(1) motorboats and auxiliary sailboats equipped with a motor or
engine rated at least fifteen (15) horsepower; and
(2) sailboats more than twenty-two (22) feet in length;
must be equipped with combination lights forward showing green to
starboard and red to port visible for a distance of at least one (1) mile
and affixed or attached so as to throw light from dead ahead to two
(2) points abaft the beam of the respective sides. The lights shall be
affixed or attached to the bow of the boat, except that sailboats
operating under sail alone may combine the red and green lights with
the stern light at the uppermost point of the mast.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-13
Hand lanterns or flashlights
Sec. 13. (a) This section applies to the following:
(1) Nonpowered boats including canoes and kayaks.
(2) Sailboats not more than twenty-two (22) feet in length under
sail alone.
(3) Boats powered only by electric motor on lakes restricted to
propulsion solely by oars, paddles, or electric motors.
(4) Any boat using an electric motor for positioning purposes
only.
(b) A boat must be equipped with a hand portable lantern or
flashlight not affixed or attached to any part of the boat and capable
of throwing a white light visible for a distance of at least two (2)
miles. The operator of the boat shall display the same or the white
light aft, if available, in sufficient time to avoid a collision with any
other boat that is being operated in accordance with this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-14
Pontoon boat lights
Sec. 14. All flat bottomed boats supported by floats, commonly
called pontoon boats, must display a fixed combination red and green
light forward and a fixed white light aft, according to standards
prescribed by the department.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-15
Violations
Sec. 15. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person who
violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction.
(b) A person who violates section 7(c) or 8 of this chapter
commits a Class A infraction. Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4(a), a
judgment of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be imposed
for each Class A infraction committed in violation of section 7(c) or
8 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.137-2007, SEC.32.